This is how fearmongering works, yes. They want to get you up in arms about $2m a year to NPR while they spend billions on unneeded, unwanted, outdated military vehicles. They want to get you up in arms about 0.004% of the vote in one state so you don't blame them for their own electoral shortcomings: "we didn't lose, the other guys cheated!"

Personally I don't think They have had a hit since 1966, so I don't know why you find the Them so compelling.